Libellés

Friday, March 30, 2012

Marianne by Liox

Far from the art fairs that are currently running in Paris now (I will come back to them later...) I just discovered a new artist today. His name is Liox and, among other things, he loves to paint "Marianne" (that is the name we give to the lady who represents the French Republic - the equivalent to Uncle Sam in the US). I found two of these portraits near Saint Germain, but you can find many others (and buy them too!) on his website. I love them, but of course, I'm French, so I'm a little biased! Have a wonderful Friday, Paris will still be sunny and beautiful today!

Egalité, liberté, fraternité - among the first French words I learned in high school. I remember being very impressed at that tender age that a nation had such ideals. Now of course Liox's caricature makes me chuckle a bit. Similar to the US's "In God We Trust", these mottos command its citizens to rise above themselves and follow a higher moral order. Frankly I love the Canadian motto "A Mari usque ad Mare" - From Sea to Sea - a majestic phrase that will always ring true no matter how much the country or its citizens have evolved.

@Trishia "Egalité, liberté, fraternité -- alas, in all of "man's" wisdom, he can't see his own hypocrisy." That is precisely what Liox means when showing Marianne with Pinocchio's nose (as Michael pointed out!)

There is no such thing as equity in a society, but at least it's nice to have it as a motto LOL!

Besides - and it's a philosophical debate - does equity mean "equity of chances" or "Equity, full stop"?

This is all so fascinating! Another intimate portrait of Paris and Parisian culture. The lower drawing is totally intriguing. And I think its great that he's doing street art that anyone can appropriate and is done on his own property!!

Jeff - yep - been a fan for 30 years. Check out a film called Bernie Worrell: Stranger on Earth. I saw it on netflix, but it may be elsewhere, too.

Martin - I bet trouble could be caused by the kind of Canadian Lumberjack who'd say: I'm a lumberjack and I"m okay, I sleep all night and I work all day. ; )

I did a report on Marianne for my French class years ago and discovered that the cap she wears is the same one freed Roman slaves wore. You can see it in the sketches, with the knob on top. At a political demonstration at the Bastille not long ago, people were running around in red felt ones. Interesting factoids.